[tzs]

> Back when they started, lidar cost a lot of money. They could not have equipped all cars with it.

But radar and ultrasound did not cost a lot and he got rid of those too, suggesting it was more than cost that made him go vision only.

Heck, they even use vision for rain sensing instead of the cheap and more effective sensor everyone else uses (which is just some infrared LEDs and photodiodes that measures the change in internal reflection at the outer side of the windshield when the critical angle changes when the windshield gets wet).

[almatabata]

> But radar and ultrasound did not cost a lot and he got rid of those too, suggesting it was more than cost that made him go vision only.

They did get rid of the radar at a moment when there was a shortage of parts. They had the choice, ship now without the part, or wait and ship less cars.

Maybe that was always the plan, and the shortage only accelerated the decision.